Disney Magical Express vs Rent Car

[quaratie]

Hi,

We are planning a trip in January 07 w DW DH DS (2 yrs) DD (7 yrs) and DD (5 yrs). I am debating on taking the Magical Express or renting a car, does the Magical Express use a lot of extra time to get to the hotel and also back to the airport when we depart. If we land at 5PM in orlando does it take hours to get to the hotel (BCV) , same thing on departing if our flight is at 3:45PM do they pick you up 4 hours earlier to go to the airport??

Thanks for your help

 

[spiceycat]

depends - if your bus is ready to leave - no it doesn't take a long time.

however if you have to wait it can take a little longer. but renting a car takes time too. So I think DME still has the upper hand.

going back to the airport I think it back to 3 hours. this is for the people who fly on airlines that won't use DME. they sometimes need the extra hours to get through everything.

 

[LoveMickey]

You do not have to use DME both ways.

We do a one or two day car rental from the airport and then use DME back to the airport. And it is 3 hrs prior to departure on the return.

 

[keishashadow]

Think it depends on which resort you're busing to & how many stops are involved before your final destination.

Even though we walked right on a bus to BCV last week, we had to sit thru lengthy stops @ CBR & BWV. Took 1 1/2 hours before we pulled into our stop.

Lots of guests had hauled their luggage to the bus & there was much ado about sorting it out. To be honest, think we'll do the same next trip to have access to luggage @ checkin. We didn't realize that the delivery wasn't projected until 3 hours after actual checkin, not arrival.

We did rent a vehicle @ dolphin for weekend switch to CR & return to airport. Airlines we use aren't "participating", so we'd have to schlep our luggage anyway, gave us more time @ MK last day.

 

[riggins]

We have 2 kids- ages 3 and 5, and we think DME is the best thing since sliced bread when travelling with young kids. We don't have to try to keep them entertained while we wait for luggage and rent the car. We don't have try to carry all our luggage while trying to keep up with the kids. We don't have to lug carseats with us and try to get them properly installed in the parking garage. We just get off the plane and get on the bus. So for us, its significantly less hassle and generally it doesn't take any longer. Given that you have 3 kids and given their ages, I would think you would likely be in the same boat that we are.

Good Luck with your decision!

 

[Muushka]

I used DME for the first time last month. Thought it was great. I usually go to WDW with husband who will NOT fly, so we always drive. But honestly, if we flew (which we never will), I probably would not bother with a car rental.

PS This is only if staying at a DVC resort. I stayed at ASMu last month and would have rented a car had I known how irritating the transportation would be and the walk from the bus to the room, oye.

 

[Mtnman44]

We used in January and were very impressed! It sure made all the logistics of travel days less stressful. I was happy not to have to worry about luggage, car rentals, traffic, parking, etc....made the day great. I do not remember noticing much extra time. From the airport, our bus was nearly empty. things went fast.

We had a 7am departure flight when we left so that required something like a 4 am pickup from the resort, too early to check baggage at the resort. Oh well. We ended up at the airport very early and sat around for a while. The trip back to the airport had significantly more people on the bus, even at 4am!

We consider magical express a prime benefit of staying on Disney Property. Not only for the peace and service and atmosphere, but also it saves car rental expenses or shuttle costs from the airport.

 

[andriade]

I've done both. The rental car line took longer but our ride to the BWV took longer with DME. I am willing to lose 20 minutes of my vacation in order to save a rental car fee for a week. I think we lost 10 minutes each way. TO me, it was worth it to not have to deal with all of our own luggage!!!!!!

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[CarolA]

I have to be honest, I love renting a car.

Well last time I took ME and it was GREAT! I think it did take a little longer to get to the resort, but I actually enjoyed the trip. It was very relaxing and just a nice ride. It was nice not to deal with the luggage.....

I will do it again (which AMAZES me, I was doing it just becasue I "had" to do it once LOL!)

I did pick up a car later in my trip from Dollar in DTD so I could go to the outlet mall etc, but...... I could have survived without one without a problem.

 

[mlill]

I have to be honest, I love renting a car.

Well last time I took ME and it was GREAT! I think it did take a little longer to get to the resort, but I actually enjoyed the trip. It was very relaxing and just a nice ride. It was nice not to deal with the luggage.....

I will do it again (which AMAZES me, I was doing it just becasue I "had" to do it once LOL!)

I did pick up a car later in my trip from Dollar in DTD so I could go to the outlet mall etc, but...... I could have survived without one without a problem.

This is great to hear, Carol! We're using DME for the first time next week, and it's hard to get rid of the feeling that we need to rent a car! We will rent one in December, but we are doing what you did and will pick up our car at the Dolphin. We only need it to transfer from the GF to the Boardwalk Villas, and to do that all important grocery run! LOL! I'm looking forward to using DME!

-Michelle

 

[tmt martins]

In June we rented a van 2 of us went to pick that up and the 3 ladies were put on DME .

We both arrived at SSR within 5 mins of each other.

Now we are just just taking ME and getting a rental at a DTD hotel location.For this trip coming up I got a 1/2 off weekends from enterprise that across I4 off Epcot way. I couldn't pass up the price and they pick-up and drop off as well.

 

[ACDSNY]

To me it depends on what activities or places you plan on going to.

We've use ME last July just fine. Next week we'll be renting a car since we are going to Kennedy Space Center, Universal and Vero Beach.

In Apr/May 07 I plan on using ME since we plan on staying on WDW for the whole week.

 

[Anewman]

We love having a minivan, last two trips we have gotten great rates on them. When we flew Delta on the return trip we checked our luggage at the carriage house and they got it on the plane for us, so all we do is return to the CAR and walk through security. IMO it gives us an extra 2 hours on both ends of the trip.

But my extended family(of 7), likes hitting the outlets and we make many trips to WALMART. And the trip to Kennedy would not have happened any other way.

In Aug. we got a minivan for about $199 total for the week both times.

 

[Lenc324]

We don't leave Disney grounds so ME is the best. Using it again in 2 weeks.

 

[rie'smom]

We always rent a car. I don't like being at the mercy of busses,taxi drivers,etc. Our family likes to go when we're ready and doesn't like to wait.
If you rent w/ Alamo in the terminal is a disaster but go to where the cars are parked. On the 2nd floor there is a glass booth and that is also a rental office. It takes about 10 minutes.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

I agree with riggins, ME is great with kids. We went last month with just our 1 yr old and loved it. We cannot wait to use it in Feb with all 4 kids. IN fact, we are thinking about sacrificing the extra savings of flying SW home and use Jetblue to be able to check the luggage at the resort!

In Sept. we landed at 9:30 ish and were at Epcot eating lunch, after checking in and picking up our APs, by 11:30. And our bags were in the room when we returned at 2 for naptime.

 

[Olaf]

I like having a car, so I'm not really interested in ME. I use National, Emerald Aisle, to avoid the lines and the counter. Transport from the airport to WDW has always been smooth for us.

 

[disneybride96]

If you fly a non-participating airline, just call bell service and ask them to store your luggage until your ME time. They will come and pick it up at your room and it will be right there when you get ready to board the bus.
We love ME!

 

[all4fun]

In December, we plan to do both DME and the rental car. We love not having to deal with the bags.

We're staying two weeks and would like some freedom to move outside of the world as necessary.

We're taking DME to and from the Boardwalk, and have two different short-term car rentals from the Alamo desk at the the Dolphin.

At the Boardwalk, 13 nights with four days rental car works out pretty well for us.